Wet weather gear: advice please

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jetwake

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Ok, daft question maybe, but I'll ask anyway.

I am crewing a yacht next month from Cadiz to Malaga and Its about time I bought new decent foulies to take along. Thing is, is a sail in that bit of water classed as offshore? Ocean? Inshore? And most of my sailing is Solent area.

I was considering buying some Line 7 stuff, as I have used it before at a school and its amazingly comfortable on me, but its now discontinued. So, a trip out is called for to try stuff on, but I wanted to minimise my messing aBOUT by trying to understand what I ought to buy in the first place.

My gut instinct is to go with Musto Coastal stuff: the BR1 Channel jacket and trousers. I want stuff thats comfortable enough so that I can wear it from "brr its a bit chilly" through to green water on the odd chance, rather than stuff thats good when on and in a storm but otherwise too bulky. Does that make sense?

I said it was a daft question. All help will be most welcome.

David
 
Hi we have tried them all (well nearly all over the years ) It is our opinion that you really do only get what you pay for .I personally now have Musto MPX I only wish Id bit the bullet and bought Musto in the very beginning It is a multi layer system so your only as warm/cool as you want to be ,I can say this from experience as we sail in the most variable conditions and Sea areas

Hope this helps Delivery Skipper

www.keenmarine.co,uk
 
Pretty much I was on the right track then. Thanks.

What do you think to Gill ?

David
 
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I sail through the winter round the UK. I usually wear a pair of floatation trousers which have a thin foam lining and are very warm as a result . From Cosalt and made for Fishermen. On the top I use an XM jacket ( 9 years old and still no leaks) with a fleece underneath. So my vote would go for a waterporrf but thin outer layer you can also use in summer, and lots of layers underneath in winter.

Thermal hat and rubber boots complete the picture, and the only bit of me that ever gets cold even when its snowing are my feet. People swear by Dubarry boots so I'll try them next.

Don't be sucked into the brand name bit. As far as I am aware, all the oilies are made in China and I suspect mostly from the same materials. So the key is to get something that fits well and is comfortable. Wife has Musto but I shant bother when I replace this kit eventually.
 
Thanks. Just been talking o Force 4 who currently have a sale on, 15% off all stock. They have my size in Gill OS2 suits so probably worth a visit.
Ive just re read the earlier LOOoong thread on foulies and it seems that Gill come out longer in the body than Musto, so that will almost certainly suit my giraffelike status better.

I need to try on.

David
 
Musto...short arms or big body depending on M or L size on me. Good collars and work ell.

Henri LLoyd....pretty standard fit. Work well.

Gill...vVery impressed with the OS1 kit...great collar, pockets etc. Can't speak for actual use though.
OS2 semmed good but pitty no chest pockets and a shorter collar.

Would never buy without trying on first.

PS bargain like hell....can get a lot off or thrown in.
 
If you can afford it Gortex every time. Henri and Musto, to me very similar quality and it just comes down to personal preference.

The various ranges, eg Coastal, Offshore, Ocean etc, the only difference I can find is in the material and the additionals, eg. does it have a hard wearing bum patch on the jacket, are the breast pockets fleece lined, etc.

Remember both have outlet shops at Swindon, and Musto have another at Bicester. Musto Bicester have mailed stuff to me before; so as long as you know what you want and the size, do a quick phone around. Swindon both had about 40-50% off jackets the other weekend so well worth a phone call.

My jacket and trousers are both top of the line Musto(cant remember which way round it is Ocean or Offshore!) bought at the outlet shop. The jacket is now some 10 years old and the trousers about 8. Both still going very strong with no problems at all.

Have fun.
 
Shop Local

As suggested try on locally & decide what you best like,then phone around for best price ,but before ordering give local supplier chance to match price (only fair & you may save postage.)We are in the Plymouth area and find with most items Yacht Parts at Queen Annes Battery very helpful

John Keen

www.keenmarine.co.uk
 
yes i agree with dilivery skipper i wear musto mpx and layers and find them great for all winter sailing but good boots are a must i wear mustos but only because of the fit. my mates swear by durburys but my main problem is why do all the companys think that because we have a beer barrel instead of a 6pack that our legs 12 inch longer than they are so there trousers are all a mile to long
 
Gill Atlantic

A couple of years ago, SWMBO decreed that I wasn't going on someone else's boat in my old Compass Offshore kit, 7 or 8 years old, faded & stained, but still functional. "I hear and obey" said I and off I went to the shop.

I tried on the cheap ones and they were OK-ish. I tried on some more expensive ones and they were better. I'd pretty much decided on the XM Ocean when I made the mistake of trying on the Gill Atlantic kit. I came out of the shop in a state of shock - I'd spent more money on that outfit than I normally spend on all my clothes in three years.

All I can say is, it's comfortable - not too hot for summer, room for warm layers underneath in winter and it's kept me dry in conditions I'd much rather have been watching from the fireside
 
bobgoode said:
Musto...short arms or big body depending on M or L size on me. Good collars and work ell.

Henri LLoyd....pretty standard fit. Work well.

Gill...vVery impressed with the OS1 kit...great collar, pockets etc. Can't speak for actual use though.
OS2 semmed good but pitty no chest pockets and a shorter collar.

Would never buy without trying on first.

PS bargain like hell....can get a lot off or thrown in.
Click to expand...

We sail or at least visit the boat all year round, our personal experience of oilies is;

Musto I've not tested, except for a pair of silvery lightweight racing keelboat type salopettes, must be 5+ yrs old- ok, but dont wear them often- legs too long.
I have had HL kit for a very long time- my short shell jacket must be 8/9 yrs old, worn sailing and commuting nearly all year round, still going strong. Have their new lined short jacket and 2yr old Offshore jacket- both almost too warm for me.

SWMBO had new Gill Offshore jkt 3 or so years ago- coating went at cuffs and on shoulders and arms in 6 months, let water in. Gill gave a replacement, which also went at cuffs and shoulders inside 5 months. SWMBO now using HL Offshore Ladies jkt for last two seasons, no problems.

SWMBO swears by her Dubarry Shamrocks,for warm dry feet and speed of resole/repair, as do I, esp. for the wide calf fitting version, which I need or get wet feet from turned down wellies or dinghy boots.

HL also fit our body shapes/lengths- vip- so try before you buy, somewhere there are several brands.

Oh and consider Buffalo, or Trax (if still made) shirt & salopettes- brilliant mid/outer layer, we lived in ours for 5 weeks cruising a Wayfarer from UK to Sweden, quick drying, fairly wet resistant, and you only need light thermals/ oilies on top. All Weather Equipment in Scotland will probably stock it and Montana is another good brand- really mountaineering kit, but really really warm.

Have a good trip.
 
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I have just thrown away my old Henri Lloyd Ocean Jacket. It was about 12 years old and had seen some miles.
At the weekend I was in Cowes and had a look at the current Henri Lloyd range. The £500 top of the line jacket was very disappointing. The old jacket had fleeced line upper pockets plus the regular pockets. The new jacket still has the pockets but no fleece lining. They also looked as though the pocket was an after thought and just created by sewing on a patch. Looked rubbish.
I used to be a fan of Henri Lloyd but from my search at the weekend I would no longer recommend Henri LLoyd waterproofs at all.
 
I managed to negotiate a Musto MPX jacket and salopettes as part of a Christmas prezzie (having tried them all on at the SBS) - discounted suits at Marine Superstore with excellent delivery. Very pleased but have still to properly try them. :D
Then went for a pair of Yacht Boot Company (YBC) wellies as my old Gill things were falling apart. Also very pleased with these - warm, soft, comfy, seem to have decent grip. And half the price of Dubarrys. :D

PS. I'm not connected with any of these names - just impressed
 
All in our family crew have XM Offshores- some newer versions. All sets perform very well, up to X- Channel and very good value for breathables.
 
I'm all for buying cheaper stuff where possible and appropriate, but for this kind of stuff I would find it hard to get away from Musto or Henri Lloyd. My HL Ocean suit bought in 1995 still has many years left in it, and it's seen some use.

SWMBO has a Gill jacket, but she hasnt been exposed to the cold and rough stuff, so cant really comment on it, other than it looks good on her.
 
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